Spreading Element for Sleeve Foil Wrapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for arranging sleeve-like foil envelopes around objects are limited by their suitability only for thick or stiff foil materials, leading to reduced handling rates and material distortion with thinner or more flexible foils, causing jamming and device standstill due to friction and creasing.
Innovation Solution
The device employs a spreading element with guide rollers and a drivable drive roller system that supports the foil material, allowing it to be deformed minimally and arranged around objects without stress concentrations, enabling higher throughput rates and easier handling of thinner foils by maintaining a substantially constant circumference and using a lower friction contact surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the device uses a conventional spreading element for thick or stiff foil materials, then the handling rate is high, but the device cannot process thinner or more flexible foil materials without jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The spreading element is designed with a dynamic geometry that changes along its length - a flat inlet side for stable positioning, a transition area that widens to gradually open the foil, and a constant circumference outlet section. This dynamic geometric progression allows the element to adapt to different foil thicknesses and flexibilities while maintaining reliable handling rates by preventing jamming through controlled deformation
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the spreading element have different geometric properties optimized for specific functions: the flat inlet side provides stability for thin foils, the transition area provides gradual opening action, and the constant circumference outlet section provides consistent shaping. This local differentiation allows the single element to handle various foil materials effectively
2Productivity
If the foil material is supplied at high speed around the spreading element, then the throughput rate increases, but the foil material becomes distorted with stress concentrations leading to damage and device blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The spreading element's transition area provides a dynamic, gradual geometric change that increases the opening angle progressively along the foil's path. This dynamic geometry allows high-speed processing by distributing the deformation over a longer path, reducing stress concentrations and preventing foil damage while maintaining high throughput rates
Solution Approach 2:
The spreading element performs preliminary deformation of the foil in a controlled manner before the foil enters the high-speed conveying and shrinking phases. The gradual opening in the transition area prepares the foil for subsequent processing by eliminating creases and stress concentrations upfront, preventing later damage during high-speed operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for the efficient deformation of foil materials into open sleeves with minimal distortion, enabling the use of thinner foils and increasing handling rates, preventing jamming and device standstill, while allowing for quick resetting and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
The foil material used therewith is made of a so-called shrink material, which shrinks as a result of heat being applied and which forms with a close fit to the shape of the bottle or container around which the sleeve-like envelope has been arranged
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for arranging a sleeve-like foil envelope around an object, comprising supply means for supplying said sleeve-like foil envelope around at least one spreading element (190) in a horizontal orientation, as well as discharge means for discharging the sleeve-like foil envelope from the device and arranging it around the object, wherein said spreading element has an inlet side configured as a flat element portion (190a), an outlet side and a transition area (194) located between said inlet side and said outlet side, and wherein said spreading element widens towards the transition area in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the flat element portion, whilst the spreading element has an at least substantially constant circumference at least in the direction from the inlet side to the transition area.